Michael Black Wins FLW Fishing Tourney

Published on October 8 2012 3:23 pm
Last Updated on October 8 2012 3:24 pm
Written by Millie Lange

(Story Written and Photo By FLW Website)

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. – Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., won the Walmart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Regional on Cherokee Lake with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 37 pounds, 10 ounces. For his victory, Black won a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard plus a Chevy 1500 Silverado and entry into the BFL All-American presented by Chevy. This regional tournament featured the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers from each of the Hoosier, Illini, Music City and Piedmont divisions.

“I’m real excited to have qualified for the All-American,” said Black. “I’ve never fished on Nickajack Lake, but everyone always tells me that it is perfect for my style of fishing – with a jig. I couldn’t be happier.”

Black won the Regional by fishing his confidence bait, a green-pumpkin with orange flake-colored 7/16-ounce Custom Cast jig, trailered with a Zoom Salty Chunk. It was the same bait that won him the BFL Super Tournament on Lake Shelbyville just one month ago.

“I was fishing for fish that no one else was fishing for,” Black said. “The water level was down about 15 feet, so I knew that I was going to have to find something unique. I fished docks and pontoons in three different spots – Hamblen County Marina, Linda’s Marina and the Gilmore Dock Marina. I was throwing the jig and punching it between pontoons and just feeding it line. The fish were deep. I had to keep my jig on the bottom, and just fish slow, simulating a crawfish. I was fishing real deep, and real slow.

“Fish management was a huge key for me,” Black continued. “I would catch one fish in a spot, and then I would leave. I didn’t want to spook any of them, and I wanted to conserve them so I could catch them all week long. It worked out nicely for me, as I had a very consistent weight every day. I was only catching seven fish a day. It really wasn’t about the numbers, it was about the consistency.”

After his victory, Black will be making his third appearance at the BFL All-American.

“This will be my third trip to the All-American, and I truly cherish each one,” Black went on to say. “I’ve got two more goals for my fishing career. I want to win the All-American, and fish in the Forrest Wood Cup. Look out everyone, I’m coming!”